Patents Examined by Nga Leung V Law
  • Multi-layer assembly and method for controlling layer thicknesses
    Patent number: 10544501
    Abstract: A pre-fabricated assemblies and methods of use for coating substrates are described. The pre-fabricated assembly includes at least two layers in a stack, each layer includes at least one raw material. The raw material in each layer may be a dielectric material. One type of stack has one outer layer as an exposed layer. One type of stack has an exposed portion with each layer, and a portion of all layers is exposed. In use, a stack in a pre-fabricated assembly is positioned in a vacuum chamber system and energy is delivered sequentially to the exposed layer, removing at least a portion of each exposed layer. Each layer becomes an exposed layer and is deposited on the substrate in a sequential manner. The pre-assembled raw material stack is used to fabricate a multi-layered coating, such as a multi-layered coating for an optical or ophthalmic article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Mark Mildebrath, David Thornhill
  • Alloy plate coated material and method of producing alloy plate coated material
    Patent number: 10525670
    Abstract: An alloy plate coated material including a base material and an alloy plate layer which is formed on the base material to constitute an outermost layer and is formed from a M1-M2-M3 alloy. M1 is at least one element selected from Ni, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn and Sn. M2 is at least one element selected from Pd, Re, Pt, Rh, Ag and Ru. M3 is at least one element selected from P and B. The alloy plate layer has a molar ratio of M1 to M2 (M1/M2) of 0.005 to 0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO KOHAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Mukai, Tomoyuki Tsuruda, Takahiro Yoshida
  • Method for manufacturing intermediate transfer belt and image forming device
    Patent number: 10527975
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt having at least a base layer and a surface layer formed in contact with a surface of the base layer, includes: irradiating a surface of the base layer with a laser such that Rz (in accordance with JIS-B0601-2001) is 0.2 ?m or more and equal to or less than a half of a film thickness of a surface layer to be formed; and forming a surface layer on the surface of the base layer irradiated with the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takayuki Suzuki, Junji Ujihara, Tsuyoshi Shimoda
  • Elemental alkali-metal dispenser
    Patent number: 10519537
    Abstract: An alkali-metal dispenser to dispense highly pure rubidium in a high-vacuum environment while not negatively impacting the high-vacuum pressure level. The alkali-metal dispenser is operable in various vapor-deposition applications or to provide a highly pure elemental-alkali metal in cold-atom magneto-optical traps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: David Hostutler, Matthew Bigelow, Rudolph N. Kohn, Jr., Spencer Olson, Matthew Squires, Daniel R. Blakley, Eric Imhof, Brian Kasch, Mary Spanjers
  • Electroless deposition of metal on 3D-printed polymeric structures
    Patent number: 10494721
    Abstract: A process for metallizing a three-dimensional-printed polymeric structure includes soaking the three-dimensional-printed polymeric structure in a metal salt solution; transferring the three-dimensional polymeric structure to a solution comprising a first reducing agent; soaking the three-dimensional polymeric structure in a metal plating bath, the metal plating bath comprising a coordinating agent, a palladium or platinum salt, a pH buffer component, and a second reducing agent, to form a metal plated polymeric structure. A metal plated porous structure and an apparatus for improving metallization are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: David Robinson, Christopher G. Jones
  • Image producing nanostructure surface
    Patent number: 10483905
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for construction or fabrication of a surface on a substrate, said surface capable of displaying a viewable static image comprising depositing curable polar optical materials in a controlled manner forming a multiplicity of nano-structure arrays, each array having the properties of specific individual reflectance of a narrow wavelength band and high transmissivity of wavelengths outside the reflective band, the dimensions and arrangements of the arrays purposefully chosen to produce predetermined intensities and hues of colors, said arrangements resulting in said viewable static image on said substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Inventor: Dan Vance
  • Method of manufacturing a magnetically graded material
    Patent number: 10483037
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetically graded material, including depositing a steel filler material to a substrate, and applying a directed energy source to first and second regions of the filler material to thereby join the filler material to form a joined material. The energy source is directed to the first region while the first region is provided with an inert shield gas such that the material of the first regions includes a magnetic phase, and the energy source is directed to the second region while the second region is provided with a nitrogen containing shield gas to thereby impart an non-magnetic phase to the joined material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Alexis Lambourne, Iain Todd
  • Surface-modification of printed objects
    Patent number: 10472448
    Abstract: Three dimensional printed objects having surface coatings, such as a hydrophobic coating or metalized surface, 3D printed substrates having an outer surface that can be tuned by application of such a coating, and methods for the fabrication of such objects and substrates are described. A surface initiator is incorporated into the 3D substrate during layer-by-layer printing, and the surface coated by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: The University of Western Ontario
    Inventors: Jun Yang, Xiaolong Wang, Xiaobing Cai, Qiuquan Guo
  • Method for forming regular polymer thin films using atmospheric plasma deposition
    Patent number: 10471465
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for forming regular polymer thin films on a substrate using atmospheric plasma discharges. In particular, the method allows for the deposition of functional polymer thin films which require a high regularity and a linear polymer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)
    Inventors: Nicolas Boscher, Patrick Choquet, David Duday, Florian Hilt
  • Printable film
    Patent number: 10471647
    Abstract: This invention concerns a process for producing a printable film comprising: providing a web of film; at a first location subjecting at least a first surface of the film web to a modified atmosphere dielectric barrier discharge (MADBD) treatment; winding the film web onto a reel; transporting the wound film web to a second location; unwinding the film web from the reel; and subjecting the first surface of the film to corona treatment. The invention also concerns printed films obtainable by the process of the invention, and articles of packaging and/or labeling made from such films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: INNOVIA FILMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Simon James Read, David Carruthers
  • Plasma spray coating enhancement using plasma flame heat treatment
    Patent number: 10468235
    Abstract: A method for forming a plasma resistant ceramic coating on an article includes placing the article into a chamber or spray cell of a plasma spraying system. A ceramic powder is then fed into the plasma spraying system at a powder feed rate, and a plasma resistant ceramic coating is deposited onto at least one surface of the article in a plasma spray process by the plasma spray system. The plasma spray system is then used to perform an in-situ plasma flame heat treatment of the plasma resistant ceramic coating to form crust on the plasma resistant ceramic coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Y. Sun, Yikai Chen, Biraja P. Kanungo
  • Laser-colored sapphire material
    Patent number: 10464843
    Abstract: A colored sapphire material and methods for coloring sapphire material using lasers are disclosed. The method for coloring the sapphire material may include positioning the sapphire material over an opaque substrate material, exposing the opaque substrate material to a laser beam passing through the sapphire material to impact the substrate material, and inducing a chemical change in a portion of the sapphire material exposed to the laser beam. The method may also include creating a visible color in the portion of the sapphire material as a result of the chemical change. The colored sapphire material may include a first transparent portion, and a second, colored portion substantially surrounded by the first portion. The second, colored portion may have a chemical composition different than that of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael M. Li, Christopher R. Fagan, Anubhav Prasad
  • Method for manufacturing a component
    Patent number: 10458012
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a component is provided. The method includes providing one or more notches on a surface of the component. Further, depositing a coating on the surface to provide a thickness of the coating on the surface, is performed. The method also includes removing, at least partially, the coating from the surface such that the thickness of the coating over the notches is different from the thickness of the coating on the surface adjacent to the notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Douglas Steinmetz, Douglas Trent Weaver, Roger Lee Recker
  • Method of subatmospheric plasma-enhanced ALD using capacitively coupled electrodes with narrow gap
    Patent number: 10435790
    Abstract: A method for depositing a film by plasma-enhanced subatmospheric-pressure atomic layer deposition (subatmospheric PEALD) is conducted using capacitively coupled parallel plate electrodes with a gap of 1 mm to 5 mm, wherein one cycle of subatmospheric PEALD includes: supplying a precursor in a pulse to the reaction chamber; continuously supplying a reactant to the reaction chamber; continuously supplying an inert gas to the reaction chamber; continuously controlling a pressure of the reaction chamber in a range of 15 kPa to 80 kPa; and applying RF power for glow discharge in a pulse to one of the parallel plate electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Atsuki Fukazawa, Masaru Zaitsu, Masaki Tokunaga, Hideaki Fukuda
  • Method for in-site synthesis of transparent conductive coating of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/nano silver
    Patent number: 10421873
    Abstract: A method for in-site synthesis of transparent conductive coating of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/nano silver hybrid on transparent substrate is provided. Transparent substrate with oxidant coating containing silver salt is immersed into 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) solution. The oxidant turns EDOT monomer to poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) coating on the transparent substrate; meanwhile, the silver salt itself is reduced to nano silver by the EDOT monomer, resulting in a nano silver-doped PEDOT coating. Thereby, a transparent conductive film made of PEDOT/nano silver coating on transparent substrate is obtained. The transparent conductive film with PEDOT/nano silver coating prepared in the present invention possesses the advantages of high electrical conductivity, optical transparency and environmental stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Inventors: Jianxiong Li, Yaxiao Ma, Anhua Liu
  • Surface treatment method for molded article, and molded article produced from material containing cyclic olefin resin
    Patent number: 10421844
    Abstract: A self-assembled monolayer is formed on the surface of a molded article without roughening the surface of the molded article to thereby perform treatment for preventing a biochemical substance from being adsorbed, for example, on a microchip substrate, and imparting functionality of immobilizing a biofunctional molecule thereto. The surface of a cyclic olefin resin molded article, for example, a microchip substrate, is irradiated with vacuum ultraviolet light having a center wavelength of 172 nm from an excimer lamp to activate a portion serving as a flow channel in the substrate. Next, the molded is immersed in a tank filled, for example, with a fluorine compound solution, and a SAM film that is a self-assembled monolayer is formed on the surface activated by ultraviolet radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: USHIO DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Miura, Shinji Suzuki, Kinichi Morita, Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Katsuaki Shimazu
  • Repair of directionally solidified alloys
    Patent number: 10415390
    Abstract: A method for epitaxial addition of repair material onto a process surface (38) of a directionally solidified component (30). The component is positioned in a fluidized bed (34) to drift particles of a repair material over the process surface as laser energy (36) is rastered across the surface to melt the particles and to fuse repair material onto the entire surface simultaneously. The component is moved downward (39) in the bed in a direction parallel to the grain orientation in the component as material is added to the surface, thereby providing continuous epitaxial addition of material to the surface without recrystallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Gerald J. Bruck
  • Rapid forming intermediate paving material
    Patent number: 10407847
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rapid forming intermediate paving material to accommodate efficient movement of heavy loads, including but not limited to heavy loads necessitated by large-scale agricultural operations. Also disclosed is a process for producing such a paving material. Producing such a paving material may be advantageous either preceding or following precipitation events, as cross linking agents allow somewhat rapid formation of a portion of polymer film thus quickly forming a durable surface for said dirt or gravel road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventor: Joshua V. Brien
  • Dry graphene transfer from metal foils
    Patent number: 10392248
    Abstract: A method for dry graphene transfer comprising growing graphene on a growth substrate, chemically modifying a transfer substrate to enhance its adhesion to graphene, contacting the graphene on the growth substrate with the transfer substrate and transfer printing; and separating the transfer substrate with attached graphene from the growth substrate. The growth substrate may be copper foil. The transfer substrate may be a polymer, such as polystyrene or polyethylene, or an inorganic substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Evgeniya H. Lock, Mira Baraket, Scott G. Walton, Matthew Laskoski, Paul E. Sheehan, Shawn P. Mulvaney, Daniel R. Hines
  • Non-ambipolar electric pressure plasma uniformity control
    Patent number: 10388528
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a plasma processing system for controlling plasma density near the edge or perimeter of a substrate that is being processed. The plasma processing system may include a plasma chamber that can receive and process the substrate using plasma for etching the substrate, doping the substrate, or depositing a film on the substrate. This disclosure relates to a plasma processing system that may be configured to enable non-ambipolar diffusion to counter ion loss to the chamber wall. The plasma processing system may include a ring cavity coupled to the plasma processing system that is in fluid communication with plasma generated in the plasma processing system. The ring cavity may be coupled to a power source to form plasma that may diffuse ions into the plasma processing system to minimize the impact of ion loss to the chamber wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Lee Chen, Zhiying Chen, Jianping Zhao, Merritt Funk